Variable condenser



Feb. 16, 1932. Q A HELLMANN 1,845,270

VARIABLE CONDENS ER Original Filed April 17, 1922 CMQCLHXQQIMW,

Patented Feb. 16, *1932 UNITED ST ES PATENT OFFICE CARL A. HEIDI-MANN, E WASHING'IQN,1DIBTBICT OF COLUMBIA VARIABLE CONDENSER Original application filed. April 17, 1922, Serial No. 668,754. Divided and this application filed October 25, 1924. Serial No. 745,769.

My invention relates to condensers.-

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved variable condenser, adapted for general use in the electrical arts and particularly adapted for use in connection with high frequency electrical work, such as the radio art or carrier wave wire signaling.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a condenser having several dis tinct ranges of capacity, any one of which may be readily selected for service by suitable means. I

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will appear from thepresent specification and the accompanying drawings, wherein all the figures are purely diagrammatic; In said drawings: I I Fig. 1 illustrates mechanical means for varying the range of a condenser by shifting its rotary member axially, thereby putting more or less plates in position to become active;

Fig. 2 illustrates the same device as Fig. 1, the rotary member being shown in a di erent position;and

Fig. 3 illustrates a detail of Fig. 1.

This case is a division of application Serial No. 553,754, filed April 17, 1922, and which has matured into Patent Number 1,525,778 dated February 10, 1925.

' As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the movable element 1 of the condenser comprises a plurality of sectors 2, which may be of any of the shapes or materials disclosed in the parent case, mounted on a shaft 3, supported rotatably and slidably by a bearing 4 near one end and supported by the panel 5 near its other end. The shaft 3 has alongitudinal slot or key-way 6' therein and also has aseries of annular grooves 7 in the portion adjacent the bearing 4. A screw 18 has an end 8 projecting into the key-way 6, or one of the grooves 7, both being of proper width to receive it. The bearing 4 is supported by the back 9, which serves in the usual manner to support the stationary plates or sectors 10 of the condenser, by means of the usual posts 11 only one of which is shown, which, if the plates 2 be of dielectric material, will be preferabl made as shown in Fig. 12 of the parent case, at if all the plates be metallic, will be made in the ordinary manner. As illustrated, V

the front of the condenser is the panel 5.itself, though obviously in a portable condenser unit, front and back would be alike in general. A sleeve 12 carrying the dial 13 is eyed slidably as at 19 on the shaft 3, and is mounted to rotatein the panel 5. A spring washer 14 held by a nut 15, serves to retain the dial 13 in proper position against panel 5. --The movable sectors 2 are keyed to the shaft 3 by means of the same key-way 6, and may be adjusted into the correct position and then secured to the shaft in any known way. The shaft terminates in a knob 16 and gals 1a series of graduations 17 adjacent said In operation, the condenser will be manipulated just as is any other rotary condenser, except that if plates of the 'ty e disclosed in the parent case be used, its efi dctive an la is between 180 and 360 instead'of being 11mited to 180 or less as'in previously known t pes. When the dial is at its zero ositi'on, t at is, when the movable sector pl ittes are entirely clear of the fixedplates, namely in the position shown in Fig. 2, the slot 6 is in register with the lug 8 and in this position it is possible to adjust the shaft 3 longitudinally to bring any one of the grooves 7 in alinement with the lug 8. These grooves are spaced the same distance apart as the sectors, so that whenever a groove is in alinement with the lug 8, the sectors are automatically alined with the spaces between the fixed plates, and may then be rotated by knob 16 to vary the capacity in the usual way. In this manner, the range of capacity may be varied, and as many sectors as desired may be put in service; the said number being indicated by the scale 17 and the forward edge of sleeve 12 cooperating therewith. The dial 13 will always indicate the angular position of the movable sector, in the usual manner.

It is observed that while I have described a condenser havingseveral unique features, it is not necessary that all said features be present, and my invention is not to be limited except as specified in the following claims.

1. A rotary variable condenser comprising fixed and movable plates, and means for varying the number of plates in active-service, comprising a shaft carrying the movable plates, which is movable longitudinally, and is graduated to indicate automatically the number of plates in such active service.

2. A rotary variable condenser comprising a shaft carrying a movable series of plates,-

and a cooperating set of fixed plates, said shaft being movable longitudinally in steps which are equal to the spacing of'the plates to vary the number of plates in service. a

3. A rotary variable condenser comprlsing a shaft carrying a movable series of plates, a cooperating set of fixed plates, said shaft being movable longitudinally to vary the number of plates in service and means for preventing such longitudinal movement when the plates are interleaved.

4. A rotary variable condenser having a plurality of stationary plates and a plurality of rotary plates cooperating therewith to pro-' A provided, said means comprising a shaft carrying the movable plates and movable longitudinally 'a distance materially greater than I the spacing of the plates.

6. A rotary variable condenser having movable plates and stationary plates, relative rotation of said plates serving to vary the capacity continuously in the usual manner and additional means independent of the rotation of the plates for varying the capacity range,

said means comprising structure for selective- 1y varying the total number of movable plates mechanically adjacent to stationary plates.

7. A rotary variable condenser having movable plates and stationary plates, relative rotation of said plates serving to vary the capacity continuously in the usual manner and additional means independent of the rotation ofthe plates for varying the ranges of capacity produced solely by the movableplates with respect to the stationary plates in successive steps.

. 8. A rotary variable condenserlhavin ro-' tary plates and stationary plateswhe're y a continuous variation of capacity maybe obtained and independent me'ansjor varying the number of plates in service, including a shaft carrying the rotary plates and having circumferential grooves thereon spaced apart distances corresponding to the spacing ofthe plates.

9. A rotary variable condenser having a stationary member and a rotary member cooperating therewith, said rotary member being mounted on a shaft,'said shaft being mounted for independent axial and rotary movements, and means preventing one only of these types of movement at certain positions of the shaft. 7

10. A rotary variable condenser having a stationary member and a rotary member cooperating therewith, said rotary member being mounted on a shaft, said shaft being mounted for independent axial and rotary movements, and means, preventing one only of these types of movement at certain positions of the shaft and the other type only in certain other positions ofsaid shaft.

11. In a condenser, a set .of stationary plates, a shaft, means to-operate the same, and a set of plates mounted on the shaft and adapted to lie parallel to the stationary plates and be moved into and out of position with respect to the same to provide an initial adjustment of the capacity, said shaft being movable bodily to alter the location of-the movable set of plates with relation to the stationary set, in steps equal to the spacing of the plates.

12. In a condenser, a plurality of stationary plates, a plurality of movable plates, and means to rotate said movable plates in unison, certain of said movable plates being so arranged that the rotation thereof will alter the capacity of the condenserand certain of said movable plates being so arranged that the rotation thereof will not affect the ca-' pacity of the condenser.

' 13. A device of the character described, including a plurality of stationary plates,'a plurality of rotary plates, said-rotary plates constituting a unit and being adjustable longltudinally with respect to said stationary plates, to an extent sufiicient to vary the number of rotary plates adjacent the stationary plates.

' 14. A condenserof the character described having a plurality of'capacity ranges, comprising a plurality of cooperating capacity producing elements, and means for producing stepwise relative motion of said cooper ating elements to select a desired capacity range, said elements being further movable relatively to one another to provide a variation' of capacity within the selected range.

15. A condenser provided with substantially parallel, spaced elements which are variation and are further'adjustable longitudinally relatively to one another in steps substantially equal to the spacing of the elements to an extent suflicient to provide relatively rotatable to provide a capacity" tinct ranges of capacity variation upon said relative rotation.

16. A- condenser provided with a stationary element and a rotary element, said rotary element being adjustable longitudinally in distinct steps to provide a number of maximum capacities, .said rotary element being also adjustable from a substantially zero capacity to said different maximum capacities.

17. The process of varying the capacity of a condenserhaving relatively movable parts at least one of which comprises a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel, capacity producing elements, which comprises first relatively moving said arts in one sense to vary the number of sai elements which will be put in service, and thus selecting a desired capacity "range, and thereafter relatively porting the stator, a bearin rotatably supported directly by the pane and forming a support for the rotor shaft, the panel itself serving as the sole front supporting and spacing means for the said rotor and stator, thus dispensing with the usual front end plate heretofore used for such purpose, and resilient means arranged between, and cooperat ing with, said bearing and panel to take up any play.

In testimony whereof I aflix m signature.

CARL A. HE NN.

moving said parts in another sense to produce a final adjustment of capacity within the selected range.

18. The process of varying the capacity of a condenser which includes two relatively movable capacity producing elements, at least one of which comprises a plurality of substantially parallel spaced members, said process consisting in first reatively moving the elements substantially transversel to the general direction of the parallel mem rs, to an extent sufiicient to change the number of such members which will become interleaved during the second step of the process, which step consists in relativel moving the elements in the planes of thelr members to vary the amount of interleaving of said members. 19. The process of varying the capacity of a condenser which has two relatively movable capacity producing elements at least one of which comprises a plurality of spaced members, which consists in first relatively moving the two elements in one sense to select the spaced members which are to contribute to the capacity and then relatively moving the elements in another sense to vary the amount of interleaving of the two elements to thus vary the capacity produced.

20. A rotary variable condenser comprising a rotor and rotor shaft and a stator, a relatively large panel and means for mounting said rotor and stator directly upon said panel, comprising a su port secured at one end directly to the pane and rigidly supporting the stator, and means rotatably supported directly by the panel and forming a support for the rotor shaft, the panel itself serving as the sole front supporting and spacing means for the said rotor and stator, thus dispensing with the usual front end plate heretofore used for such purpose.

21. A rotary variable condenser comprising a rotor and rotor shaft and a stator, a

relatively large panel and means for mounting said rotor and stator directly upon said panel, comprising a support secured at one end directly to thwpanel and rigidly sup- 

